Canadian National Ski Team – Page 37

Canadian National Ski Team Racing World Cup

Wadsworth Named Canadian Head Coach

FasterSkierApril 16, 20101

CANMORE, Alta.—Canada’s high-performance cross-country ski athletes will begin their four-year march to the 2014 Olympic Winter Games with a new head coach blazing the trail to world-leading results. Justin Wadsworth, a three-time Olympic cross-country skier for the United States, has accepted the role as head coach of the National Ski Team, Cross Country Canada announced on Friday. The 41-year-old Wadsworth, who is very familiar with Canada’s cross-country ski program as the former training partner and now husband of...

Canadian National Ski Team Continental Cup General News Racing US Ski Team

Newell Holds Off Babikov for Tour Victory

Nathaniel HerzMarch 28, 20101

Today’s 7 k men’s hill climb in Fort Kent was scripted to end with an exciting finish. It didn’t disappoint. At the bottom, Andy Newell (USST) started the day with a 1:20 advantage over Ivan Babikov (Canada), one of the best pure climbers in the world. By the time they arrived at the top, Babikov had made up all the time. But he couldn’t shake Newell, who had saved just enough for the one kilometer...

Canadian National Ski Team Continental Cup General News Racing US Ski Team

With Well-Timed Lunge, Koos Wins American Sprint Showdown Over Newell

Nathaniel HerzMarch 27, 2010

Andy Newell (USST) and Torin Koos (USST) are the two best male sprinters in the United States. But not until this frigid March day, in one of the furthest-flung corners of the country, did they finally go head-to-head in the classic sprint at the 2010 SuperTour Finals in Madawaska. It was worth the wait. After a qualifying round, a quarter, and a semifinal heat, the battle came down to a double-pole drag race in the...

Canadian National Ski Team Continental Cup General News Racing US Ski Team

Newell Capitalizes on Babikov Blunder, Grabs Yellow Bib

Nathaniel HerzMarch 26, 20103

On his way to the line for what he thought would be a second-place finish in Friday’s men’s 10k classic mass start, Andy Newell (USST) came across a surprising sight: Canadian skier Ivan Babikov skiing backwards in a parallel lane. Babikov had missed the sign where the finish split off from the lap lane, and was backtracking. In the process, Newell cruised by to take the victory, with Lars Flora (APU) and Torin Koos (USST)...

Canadian National Ski Team Continental Cup General News Racing US Ski Team

Babikov, Randall Headline U.S. 30/50 K Champs. In Fort Kent

Nathaniel HerzMarch 23, 2010

Ivan Babikov (CAN) has traveled more than 10,000 kilometers since the conclusion of the 2010 Winter Olympics in late February. He only has to go 50 more on Wednesday, but they’ll feel every bit as long and painful as his circuitous journey from Vancouver to Fort Kent, Maine. Babikov is the clear favorite for tomorrow’s U.S. freestyle 30/50 k championships, but racing just 72 hours removed from the World Cup Finals in Sweden, he’ll be...

Canadian National Ski Team General News Racing US Ski Team World Cup

Cologna, Kowalczyk Win World Cup Finals Prologue

Nathaniel HerzMarch 19, 2010

The distance of the first race of the World Cup finals may have been unfamiliar, but the pair of names atop the results sheet on Friday were anything but. Though rarely raced on the World Cup, the 3.3/2.5k prologue was just right for Poland’s Justyna Kowalczyk and Switzerland’s Dario Cologna, as each skied to a convincing victory in the first of three races held in Falun, Sweden. Men Cologna finished five seconds ahead of Mats...

Canadian National Ski Team Racing US Ski Team World Cup

Canada Struggles in 50km, Arritola and Gregg Lead US

Topher SabotMarch 13, 2010

Oslo, Norway – The Canadian men’s team, just off a record-breaking Olympics, was unable to re-capture the magic. The “Big-4” of Devon Kershaw, Ivan Babikov, Alex Harvey, and George Grey all dropped out of the race, leaving Graham Nishikawa as the sole finisher in 48th place, +19:24. Kershaw was complimentary of his teammate, and very disappointed in his own performance. “Nish is a tough MF’er. Ivan, George, Alex and I pulled the pin. I had...

Canadian National Ski Team General News Olympics Racing World Cup

Kershaw, Grey Cap Off Strong Games for Canadian Men

Nathaniel HerzFebruary 28, 2010

As writers and commentators deconstructed the decision to sit Brian McKeever in the men’s 50 k classic on Sunday, the four Canadians in the race got down to business. It wasn’t a good day for Alex Harvey and Ivan Babikov, who were dropped from the lead pack early on. But Devon Kershaw and George Grey had a pair of strong performances, skiing at the front and asserting the team’s status as a force to be...

Canadian National Ski Team General News Olympics Racing World Cup

Wood Defends Decision on McKeever

Nathaniel HerzFebruary 28, 20102

As much as anyone might begrudge Team Canada coaches Dave Wood and National Inge Braten’s decision to sit Brian McKeever in Sunday’s 50 k classic, it’s hard to disagree with the fact that the two were presented with an agonizing choice. While starting McKeever would have meant making history—the Canadian would have been the first athlete to compete in both the winter Olympics and Paralympics—it also would have meant holding a potential medal contender out...

Canadian National Ski Team Olympics Racing

Another Banner Day for Canadian Men

Topher SabotFebruary 22, 20101

Whistler, British Columbia – Another race, another record. The Canadian men’s cross-country team upped the ante once again, setting the third new mark for best Canadian men’s finish at the Olympics for the third time in the past 10 days. Ivan Babikov bettered Pierre Harvey’s 14th in ’88 with his 8th in the 15km. He then placed 5th in the pursuit, and now the team sprint of duo of Devon Kershaw and Alex Harvey did...

Canadian National Ski Team General News Olympics Racing US Ski Team World Cup

German Women Knock Off Swedes for Team Sprint Title

Nathaniel HerzFebruary 22, 2010

The prolonged, brutal physical demands of the team sprint make the event a fickle friend. Just ask Charlotte Kalla and Anna Haag. After blowing the doors off the eight other teams in their semifinal, the Swedish women came into the gold-medal round as an irresistible force. But they ran head on into the immovable object of Claudia Nystad and Evi Sachenbacher-Stehle, a pair of veteran German women without the speed for the first round, but...

Canadian National Ski Team Olympics Racing

Banner Day for Canadian Men as Babikov Sets Record Again

Topher SabotFebruary 20, 20103

Entering these 2010 Olympic Games, the top result by a Canadian man was a 14th by the legendary Pierre Harvey in 1988. Ivan Babikov bettered that with an 8th place in the 15km, but the best was yet to come. Pierre Harvey’s son, Alex topped his father’s result, finishing 9th today. And he was the just the third Canadian across the line. Babikov set yet another new record, finishing 5th, and in medal contention until...

Canadian National Ski Team General News Olympics Racing World Cup

Renner Gets Redemption With Tenth in Pursuit

Nathaniel HerzFebruary 20, 2010

After being “screwed by the jury” in Wednesday’s sprint, according to one of her teammates, Canada’s Sara Renner had some unfinished business to take care of. In the sprint, Renner was impeded when a skier in the track in front of her wouldn’t move—causing her to miss out on the heats in the same event in which she took third just two weeks ago in Canmore. But today, in the 15k pursuit, she got a...

Canadian National Ski Team Olympics Racing

Kuhn and Kershaw Strong for Canada

Topher SabotFebruary 18, 2010

Whistler, British Columbia – Stefan Kuhn thrilled home fans with a blistering qualification round in the men’s classic sprint. Kuhn was the 10th fastest qualifier, just 3.78 seconds behind Alexander Panzhinskiy (RUS). Kuhn has been on a role lately, at least in the qualification round – he was 7th last week in the Canmore World Cup. In a tough quarterfinal, he was in strong position throughout much of the the first part of the heat,...

Canadian National Ski Team General News Olympics Racing US Ski Team World Cup

Can North Americans Unseat the Scandos in the Sprint?

Topher SabotFebruary 17, 20106

Sunny skies and warm temperatures greeted sprinters on their arrival at Whistler Olympic Park this morning for the men’s and women’s sprint. This is a big chance for the Canadians and the U.S.—all six Americans are capable of qualifying for the heats, with three medal hopefuls in Kikkan Randall, Torin Koos, and Andy Newell. The Canadians are set up just as well, with Devon Kershaw, Sarah Renner, Dasha Gaiazova, and Perianne Jones gunning for the...

Canadian National Ski Team General News Olympics Racing World Cup

Cologna Skis to Switzerland’s First Olympic Gold

Nathaniel HerzFebruary 15, 20107

With a few hours to go before the start of the men’s 15k freestyle this morning, what was Dario Cologna thinking about? Not the pressure he was under. Not that the race was his Olympic debut. In fact, Cologna wasn’t thinking about cross country skiing at all: Instead, he was watching alpine skiing on TV, waiting to find out how his Swiss countrymen would fare in the men’s downhill race. Cologna ended up five minutes...

Canadian National Ski Team Olympics Racing

Canada Officially Expands Olympic Roster

FasterSkierJanuary 27, 2010

CANMORE, Alta.—Canada will send four more cross-country skiers to the 2010 Olympic Winter Games, bringing the team’s total size to 15, thanks to additional spots allocated to the Canadians by FIS, Cross Country Canada announced on Wednesday. Drew Goldsack, of Red Deer, Alta., Calgary’s Brent McMurtry, Gordon Jewett, of Canmore, Alta., and Brittany Webster, of Caledon, Ont., who all met Cross Country Canada’s Olympic criteria for nomination to the Olympic Team in December, had their...

Canadian National Ski Team Olympics

Cross Country Canada Submits Veteran Lineup of Athletes for Nomination to 2010 Canadian Olympic Team

FasterSkierJanuary 22, 2010

CANMORE, Alta.—Canada will send one of its most talented teams of cross-country skiers to the start line with a focus on contributing to the nation’s medal count at the 2010 Olympic Winter Games, Cross Country Canada announced during a media conference on Friday. The national body for cross-country skiing nominated a historic lineup of five women and six men to the Canadian Olympic Committee that will don the maple leaf race suit next month at...

Canadian National Ski Team Olympics

Olympic Qualification: What About Canada?

Topher SabotJanuary 19, 2010

We have been making a big deal about the US Olympic Team, the first part of which will be announced today. But what about Canada? As the home country, the Olympics don’t get any bigger. Cross-Country Canada has mandated a minimum team size of 12 athletes with at least 5 men and 5 women. The maximum is 16. The 12 skier minimum specified in the qualification criteria was put in with some optimism given that...

Canadian National Ski Team Olympics Racing US Ski Team

Additional Quota Analysis – US and Canada to Gain Spots

Topher SabotJanuary 19, 20108

Now that FIS has announced the quotas for the 2010 Olympics, focus has shifted to the potential for additional spots due to reallocation. The US currently has 8 spots and Canada 11. The maximum that any country can have is 20 – currently Russia, Norway, Sweden, Finland and Italy are at the maximum. Germany is not far behind with 18. But if these countries (or any other for that matter) choose not to take their...

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